Beneath the mountains lie rich reserves of gas and copper. The people who live here want their share of the wealth, and some want to be free of Pakistan's control.

The Baluch separatists are led by Balach Marri, an elected member of the provincial assembly.

He is a secretive man - now in hiding from government forces.

He has never before spoken to an international television network.

Balach's men promised their leader would call us and speak to us in person, but not before they were satisfied that we were willing to tell their story. They filmed our interview with an elder who said he was mistreated in prison and needs a walking stick now.

Struggle going 'very well'

Balach Marri kept his word and called us on a satellite phone from an undisclosed location.

He said: "In my opinion, the situation for the struggle of an independent Baluchistan is going ahead very well.

"People are depending upon their own strength and vision for an independent state."

His men will tell you their leader is in the Baluch mountains, but the Pakistan government intelligence agencies believe he is in Afghanistan.

Balach Marri, an elected member of theprovincial assembly, leads the separatists

The government says Marri is supported by forces from outside Pakistan but believe they are close to defeating the separatists.

Owais Ghani, governor of Baluchistan, said: "I'll clearly state here that there was a foreign factor at work in which these tribal militants were receiving a lot of heavy armament. And we're not talking about Kalashnikovs and all that, that does not worry us.